World Cup 2010 South Africa: BS&C Prediction Update

Here’s how things are shaping up with the predictions I made the day before the World Cup Finals started...

Group A:

Prediction: Mexico & Uruguay go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group A Points
Uruguay 4
Mexico 4
France 1
South Africa 1


Group B:

Prediction: Argentina & Korea go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group B Points
Argentina 6
Korea 3
Greece 3
Nigeria 0


Group C:

Prediction: United States & England go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group C Points
Slovenia 4
USA 2
England 2
Algeria 1


Group D:

Prediction: Germany & Serbia go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group D Points
Ghana 4
Germany 3
Serbia 3
Australia 1


Group E:

Prediction: Netherlands & Cameroon go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group E Points
Netherlands 6
Japan 3
Denmark 3
Cameroon 0


Group F:

Prediction: Italy & Paraguay go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group F Points
Paraguay 4
Italy 2
New Zealand 2
Slovakia 1


Group G:

Prediction: Brazil & Ivory Coast go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group G Points
Brazil 6
Portugal 4
Ivory Coast 1
DPR Korea 0


Group H:

Prediction: Spain & Honduras go through.

Current group standings after 2 of 3 group matches:

Group H Points
Chile 6
Spain 3
Switzerland 3
Honduras 0

So essentially things are going reasonably well with the predictions. However in football as in life, few things are perfect.

With the group C logjam for the second berth to the knockout rounds, either England or the United States must disappoint me.

In group D, underperforming Serbia must play up in their third and last group match to make my prediction come true.

In group E, a disappointing Cameroon squad has dropped all points from it’s first two matches. For Cameroon to go through they must defeat the Dutch, which is highly unlikely, and then a series of equally unlikely events must take place for the Indomitable Lions to progress to the round of 16.

Though Paraguay and Italy seem to have group F sewn up, two surprise draws from New Zealand have made an interesting race of it. I defy anyone to predict who besides Paraguay will actually advance.

For my group G prediction to come true, Ivory Coast must win their last group match, and then they must hope that Portugal fails to beat Brazil AND that Brazil keep a clean sheet. Even so, it may not matter as Portugal has a +7 goal difference after their shellacking of North Korea. In an ideal scenario, Ivory Coast would have beat North Korea by a score of 10:0 in order to advance.

The group H prediction is ruined, as Honduras failed to represent for CONCACAF zone, dropping all points from their first two matches. Honduras have a slim chance to advance, but it is only mathematical, as they haven’t even managed to score a goal. I may get some stick from those at The Shin Guardian for taking a chance on Los Catratchos...unless of course, Honduras snap out of their funk and produce a 4:0 result over the Swiss.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Finals. I encourage you to write in with your opinions and ideas.